Friday, 13 June 2014

Album review: EELS - The Cautionary Tales Of Mark Oliver Everett

How do you write about Eels in 2014? What exactly can
you say about Mark Everett’s new songs that you haven’t said about his old ones? And what does this new album have to tell you? The fact that he can still write a bunch of good songs in that
gruff-pretty style of his? The fact that in a year or two you will be craving
for more?..

I don’t know. Throughout the years I’ve realised that
I may well be happy with my trusted copy of Daisies
Of The Galaxy. An album which, all things considered, remains the ultimate Eels experience.

But since it’s all about songs, let’s talk about
songs. The songs are good in the usual, safe way. Which means that if you can’t find
beauty in the disarming simplicity of “Agatha Chang”, you stand no chance with
Eels. Still, we have heard better, and thankfully the album does have glimpses of Everett’s spark.
“Parallels” has that extra dimension that makes it a modest Eels classic.
“Where I’m From” is pleasingly country-ish and upbeat. “Mistakes Of My Youth”
has an understated anthemic quality to it that is very endearing. “Kindred
Spirit” is prettier than
others. But then again – the guitar underpinning “A Swallow In The Sun”
may be one of the loveliest things you will hear all year, but the melody never sounds
especially convincing. This is Mark’s general problem at this point, even if he remains a
masterful songwriter-in-style. What I want to say is that if you’re not a fan, you
have every right to feel exhausted. If you are
a fan, The Cautionary Tales Of Mark
Oliver Everett is pretty much your favourite album of the year. It’s
simple. Personally, I’d love to love it more, but I’m afraid I’ve had my Eels
days. Will they come back? They might, but that is not something you
should be looking forward to.